CONVEYER BELT WITH OPTICALLY VISIBLE AND MACHINE-DETECTABLE INDICATORS

• US 20110007871A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voorhees R. John
• Original Assignee: Voorhees R. John
• Inventors: Voorhees, R. John
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8901 Optical details; Scanning details per se G02B

Abstract

A method for correlating optically visible objects with objects detectable through a non-invasive imaging system is described. The method includes conveying an object on a conveyer belt through the non-invasive imaging system. The conveyer belt can include optically visible indicia and machine-detectable indicia. The object and the machine-detectable indicia can be displayed on a display in communication with the non-invasive imaging system. The machine-detectable indicia viewed on the display can be correlated with the optically visible indicia on the conveyer belt after the object has exited the non-invasive imaging system to identify the object.

Claims

1. A method for correlating optically visible objects with objects detectable through a non-invasive imaging system, comprising:

conveying an object on a conveyer belt through the non-invasive imaging system, wherein the conveyer belt comprises optically visible indicia and machine-detectable indicia;

displaying the object and the machine-detectable indicia on a display operatively coupled to the non-invasive imaging system;

correlating the machine-detectable indicia viewed on the display with the optically visible indicia on the conveyer belt after the object has exited the non-invasive imaging system to identify the object.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the non-invasive imaging system comprises an x-ray imaging system and displaying the object and the machine-detectable indicia on the display comprises irradiating the object and the machine-detectable indicia, the machine-detectable indicia comprising irradiatively visible indicia.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein displaying the object and the machine-detectable indicia on the display comprises irradiating the object, and receiving an electronic signal comprising the machine-detectable indicia, wherein receiving the electronic signal further comprises transmitting the electronic signal including an electronic equivalent of the optically visible indicia.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein transmitting the electronic signal further comprises transmitting the electronic signal from a transponder device attached to the conveyer belt in a substantially similar position as the optically visible indicia.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein transmitting the electronic signal further comprises transmitting the electronic signal in response to a received signal.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein transmitting the electronic signal further comprises transmitting a self-initiated electronic signal.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising attaching the machine-detectable indicia to the conveyer belt such that a vertical profile of the machine-detectable indicia is less than a height of laser triggers in an irradiation device.

8. A system for transporting objects, comprising:

an endless belt configured to transport objects;

optically visible indicia associated with a position on the endless belt; and

machine-detectable indicia associated with the optically visible indicia on the endless belt and detectable by a machine, the machine-detectable indicia being associated with a substantially similar position on the endless belt as the optically visible indicia.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein the machine-detectable indicia comprises irradiatively visible indicia, and the machine comprises an x-ray machine, wherein the machine-detectable indicia is detectable by forming an x-ray image of the irradiatively visible indicia.

10. A system as in claim 8, wherein the machine-detectable indicia comprises data stored on a computer chip attached to the endless belt, wherein the machine-detectable indicia comprises an electronic equivalent of the optically visible indicia.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the computer chip comprises an RFID tag.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein the computer chip comprises a transponder.

13. A system as in claim 10, wherein the computer chip comprises an electronic transmitter.

14. A system as in claim 8, wherein the optically visible indicia comprises a letter.

15. A system as in claim 8, wherein the optically visible indicia comprises a number.

16. A system as in claim 8, wherein the optically visible indicia comprises a shapes.

17. A system as in claim 8, wherein the optically visible indicia comprises a color.

18. An airport security system for non-invasively inspecting baggage items, comprising:

a non-invasive imaging system from providing an image of contents of a baggage item;

a display device in communication with the non-invasive imaging system and configured to display the image;

an endless belt configured to transport baggage items through the non-invasive imaging system;

optically visible indicia associated with a position on the endless belt; and

machine-detectable indicia associated with the optically visible indicia on the endless belt and displayable on the display device, the machine-detectable indicia being associated with a substantially similar position on the endless belt as the optically visible indicia.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein the machine-detectable indicia comprises irradiatively visible indicia, and the non-invasive imaging system comprises an x-ray machine, wherein the machine-detectable indicia is detectable by forming an x-ray image of the irradiatively visible indicia.

20. A system as in claim 18, wherein the machine-detectable indicia comprises data stored on a computer chip attached to the endless belt, wherein the machine-detectable indicia comprises an electronic equivalent of the optically visible indicia.