Method and System for Tracking of Items

• US 20090114575A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Carpenter, Michael D., Redford, Dale E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,825,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for enabling manual sorting items to one of several designated areas associated with delivery destinations. The system includes a conveyor for transporting a stream of items. A video camera is positioned to capture an image of an observation zone to read destination data on the item as it is transported on the conveyor and the location of the item as it continues on the conveyor. A control computer is used in which destination data is stored associating the destination data for an item with a location of the item on the conveyor, and operable to track the location of the item by video tracking with the same camera as the item moves out of an observation zone into an unloading zone. A video projector projects an image onto the item on the conveyor in the unloading zone that includes human-readable instructions for disposition of the item.

Claims

1. A method for sorting items to one of several designated areas associated with delivery destinations, comprising:

transporting a single non-overlapping layer of items on a conveyor which transports the items to an area where the items are loaded for transport;

storing the destination data for computer access;

using a video camera, reading destination data on the item as it is transported on the conveyor into an observation zone;

transporting the items further on the conveyor beyond the observation zone into an unloading zone;

in a control computer, associating the destination data for an item with a location of the item on the conveyor;

tracking the location of the mail piece by video tracking with the camera used to read the destination data as the item moves out of the observation zone into an unloading zone on the conveyor;

projecting an image onto or near the item on the conveyor, which image includes human-readable instructions for disposition of the item;

manually unloading the item from the conveyor and placing it in a designated transport location as indicated by the projected image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination data read in the observation zone is a symbol which the control computer associates with the designated transport location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the symbol is a geometric symbol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stream includes items side by side on the conveyor.

5. A system for enabling manual sorting items to one of several designated areas associated with delivery destinations, comprising:

;

a conveyor for transporting a stream of the items from an area in which sorting of the items takes place to an area where the items are loaded for transport;

a video camera positioned to capture an image of an observation zone to read destination data on the item as it is transported on the conveyor into the observation zone, and also positioned to capture the location of the item as it continues on the conveyor into an unloading zone;

a control computer in which destination data is stored associating the destination data for an item with a location of the item on the conveyor, and operable to track the location of the item by video tracking with the same camera used to read the destination data as the item moves out of the observation zone into the unloading zone; and

a video projector for projecting an image onto or near the item on the conveyor in the unloading zone, which image includes human- readable instructions for disposition of the item.