Conveyors including sensors for detecting error conditions associated with products traveling on the conveyors
First Claim
1. A system for sorting and tracking products at a product distribution facility, the system comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected conveyors configured to move the products;
a first sensor positioned proximate a product advancement surface of at least one of the conveyors and configured to detect at least one identifying characteristic of at least one product moving on the product advancement surface;
a second sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect at least one physical characteristic of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface;
an electronic database storing inventory management data including;
data indicating predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when in a new condition and undamaged; and
data indicating actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual identifying characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the first sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface;
data indicating actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the second sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface;
a third sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect a location of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; and
a processor-based electronic inventory management device in communication with the first and second sensors and the electronic database, the electronic inventory management device being configured obtain the inventory management data stored in the electronic database and, based on the obtained inventory management data, to;
compare the data indicating the actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the first sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to determine an identity of the at least one product detected by the first sensor;
compare the data indicating the actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the second sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to verify that the identity of the at least one product and that the condition of the at least one product detected by the second sensor is new and undamaged; and
redirect movement of the at least one product detected by the first and second sensors on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors in response to a determination, by the electronic inventory management device, that a verification of the identity of the at least one product failed or that the at least one product is not in a new condition or is in a damaged condition;
wherein the inventory management data stored in the electronic database further includes data indicating predefined route information associated with the at least one product; and
wherein the electronic inventory management device is configured to compare actual route information of the at least one product based on detection of the at least one product by the third sensor to the predefined route information associated with the at least one product in the electronic database in order to determine whether the actual route of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors is consistent with the predefined route information associated with the at least one product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include interconnected conveyors including multiple sensors configured to detect identifying characteristics and physical characteristics of the products traveling on the conveyors. The product-associated information that is detected by the sensors is analyzed relative to predefined product-associated identifying characteristics and physical characteristics stored in a database, and an error signal is generated if the actual, sensor-obtained product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics, do not correspond to the predefined, database-stored product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for sorting and tracking products at a product distribution facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected conveyors configured to move the products; a first sensor positioned proximate a product advancement surface of at least one of the conveyors and configured to detect at least one identifying characteristic of at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; a second sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect at least one physical characteristic of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; an electronic database storing inventory management data including; data indicating predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when in a new condition and undamaged; and data indicating actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual identifying characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the first sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; data indicating actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the second sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; a third sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect a location of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; and a processor-based electronic inventory management device in communication with the first and second sensors and the electronic database, the electronic inventory management device being configured obtain the inventory management data stored in the electronic database and, based on the obtained inventory management data, to; compare the data indicating the actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the first sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to determine an identity of the at least one product detected by the first sensor; compare the data indicating the actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the second sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to verify that the identity of the at least one product and that the condition of the at least one product detected by the second sensor is new and undamaged; and redirect movement of the at least one product detected by the first and second sensors on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors in response to a determination, by the electronic inventory management device, that a verification of the identity of the at least one product failed or that the at least one product is not in a new condition or is in a damaged condition; wherein the inventory management data stored in the electronic database further includes data indicating predefined route information associated with the at least one product; and wherein the electronic inventory management device is configured to compare actual route information of the at least one product based on detection of the at least one product by the third sensor to the predefined route information associated with the at least one product in the electronic database in order to determine whether the actual route of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors is consistent with the predefined route information associated with the at least one product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for sorting and tracking products at a product distribution facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected conveyors configured to move the products; a first sensor positioned proximate a product advancement surface of at least one of the conveyors and configured to detect at least one identifying characteristic of at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; a second sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect at least one physical characteristic of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; an electronic database storing inventory management data including; data indicating predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when in a new condition and undamaged; and data indicating actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual identifying characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the first sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; data indicating actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the second sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; and a processor-based electronic inventory management device in communication with the first and second sensors and the electronic database, the electronic inventory management device being configured obtain the inventory management data stored in the electronic database and, based on the obtained inventory management data, to; compare the data indicating the actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the first sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to determine an identity of the at least one product detected by the first sensor; compare the data indicating the actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the second sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to verify that the identity of the at least one product and that the condition of the at least one product detected by the second sensor is new and undamaged; and redirect movement of the at least one product detected by the first and second sensors on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors in response to a determination, by the electronic inventory management device, that a verification of the identity of the at least one product failed or that the at least one product is not in a new condition or is in a damaged condition; wherein the electronic database further includes order information associated with the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface, and wherein the electronic inventory management device is further configured to obtain the order information associated with the at least one product from the electronic database after a successful verification by the electronic inventory management device of the identity of the at least one product and that the at least one product is in a new and undamaged condition, and to determine whether the verified identity of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors is consistent with the order information associated with the at least one product obtained by the electronic inventory management device from the electronic database.
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10. A method for sorting and tracking products at a product distribution facility, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of interconnected conveyors configured to move the products; providing a first sensor positioned proximate a product advancement surface of at least one of the conveyors and configured to detect at least one identifying characteristic of at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; providing a second sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect at least one physical characteristic of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; providing a third sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect a location of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; providing an electronic database storing inventory management data including; data indicating predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when in a new condition and undamaged; and data indicating actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual identifying characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the first sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; data indicating actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the second sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; and providing a processor-based electronic inventory management device in communication with the first and second sensors and the electronic database, the electronic inventory management device being configured obtain the inventory management data stored in the electronic database and, based on the obtained inventory management data, to; compare the data indicating the actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the first sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to determine an identity of the at least one product detected by the first sensor; compare the data indicating the actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the second sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to verify that the identity of the at least one product and that the condition of the at least one product detected by the second sensor is new and undamaged; and redirect movement of the at least one product detected by the first and second sensors on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors in response to a determination, by the electronic inventory management device, that a verification of the identity of the at least one product failed or that the at least one product is not in a new condition or is in a damaged condition; storing, on the electronic database, data indicating predefined route information associated with the at least one product; and comparing, via the electronic inventory management device actual route information of the at least one product based on detection of the at least one product by the third sensor to the predefined route information associated with the at least one product in the electronic database in order to determine whether the actual route of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors is consistent with the predefined route information associated with the at least one product. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for sorting and tracking products at a product distribution facility, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of interconnected conveyors configured to move the products; providing a first sensor positioned proximate a product advancement surface of at least one of the conveyors and configured to detect at least one identifying characteristic of at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; providing a second sensor positioned proximate the product advancement surface and configured to detect at least one physical characteristic of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; providing an electronic database storing inventory management data including; data indicating predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the predefined identifying characteristic and physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when in a new condition and undamaged; and data indicating actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual identifying characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the first sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; data indicating actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product, the actual physical characteristic information corresponding to the at least one product when detected by the second sensor during movement of the at least one product along the product advancement surface; and providing a processor-based electronic inventory management device in communication with the first and second sensors and the electronic database, the electronic inventory management device being configured obtain the inventory management data stored in the electronic database and, based on the obtained inventory management data, to; compare the data indicating the actual identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the first sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined identifying characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to determine an identity of the at least one product detected by the first sensor; compare the data indicating the actual physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product detected by the second sensor during movement on the product advancement surface to the data indicating the predefined physical characteristic information associated with the at least one product in order to verify that the identity of the at least one product and that the condition of the at least one product detected by the second sensor is new and undamaged; and redirect movement of the at least one product detected by the first and second sensors on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors in response to a determination, by the electronic inventory management device, that a verification of the identity of the at least one product failed or that the at least one product is not in a new condition or is in a damaged condition; storing, on the electronic database, order information associated with the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface; obtaining, via the electronic inventory management device, the order information associated with the at least one product from the electronic database after a successful verification by the electronic inventory management device of the identity of the at least one product and that the at least one product is in a new and undamaged condition; and determining, via the electronic inventory management device, whether the verified identity of the at least one product moving on the product advancement surface of the at least one of the conveyors is consistent with the order information associated with the at least one product obtained by the electronic inventory management device from the electronic database.
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Specification