METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CLASSIFYING OBJECTS

• US 20120205435A1
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonio Mallare, Frank Weber, Stephen Woerz
• Original Assignee: Antonio Mallare, Frank Weber, Stephen Woerz
• Inventors: Woerz, Stephen, Weber, Frank, Mallare, Antonio
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention provides methods for classifying an object by (a) at least partially coating at least one surface of the object with at least one barcode; (b) scanning the barcode with at least one corresponding barcode detector that is detectably compatible with a barcode of the type coated on the object; (c) determining whether the barcode is read by the barcode detector; and (d) classifying the object on the basis of at least one barcode not being read by the corresponding barcode detector.

Claims

1. A method for classifying an object comprising the steps of (a) at least partially coating at least one surface of the object with at least one barcode;

(b) scanning the barcode with at least one corresponding barcode detector that is detectably compatible with a barcode of the type coated on the object;

(c) determining whether the barcode is read by the barcode detector; and

(d) classifying the object on the basis of at least one barcode not being read by the corresponding barcode detector.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. A method for classifying an object from a plurality of objects comprising the steps of (a) at least partially coating at least one surface of each object of the plurality of objects with at least one barcode;

(b) scanning the at least one barcode on each object of the plurality of objects with at least one corresponding barcode detector that is detectably compatible with a barcode of the type coated on the object;

(c) determining whether the barcode is read by the barcode detector; and

(d) classifying the object in the plurality of objects on the basis of at least one barcode on the object not being read by the corresponding barcode detector.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the object is classified as desirable if the barcode is not read by the corresponding barcode detector.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the object is classified as undesirable if the barcode is not read by the corresponding barcode detector.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the undesirable object is classified as defective.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the undesirable object is classified as tampered with.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the one object is classified as desirable when its barcode is read by the corresponding barcode detector and the other object is classified as undesirable when its barcode is not read by the corresponding barcode detector.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the undesirable object is classified as defective.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the undesirable object is classified as tampered with.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the barcode is an invisible barcode, a visible barcode, or combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the barcode is a 1-D invisible barcode, a 2-D visible barcode, a 2-D invisible barcode, a 3-D visible barcode, a 3-D invisible barcode, or any combination thereof.

37. The method of claim 24 wherein the barcode is invisible and the barcode is coated on the object over existing markings on the object.

38. The method of claim 24 wherein the object is a product, device, container, label, or combinations thereof.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the object is a can, bottle, pouch, box, bag, tray, tube, or sleeve.

41. The method of claim 24 wherein the barcode is detectable using radiation selected from a spectrum of wavelengths from radio waves to X-rays.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the radiation is visible radiation, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, microwave radiation, or any combination thereof.

33. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

43. A device suitable for classifying an object from a plurality of objects comprising (a) a continuous production line for the plurality of objects;

(b) at least one barcode detector attached to the continuous production line such that radiation from the at least one barcode detector is incident on at least one object of the plurality of objects on the continuous production line; and

(c) at least one of the following components;

(i) a remover component for removing an object that is not read by the at least one barcode detector from the plurality of objects;

(ii) an inspection component for inspecting the object not read by the at least one barcode, for identifying a defect;

(iii) a discarding component for discarding the object of item (ii);

(iv) a reprocessing component for reprocessing the object of item (ii) into the object on continuous production line; and

(v) a reinserting component for reinserting the object of item (ii) into the continuous production line.

44. The device of claim 43 suitable for classifying packages.

45. The device of claim 44 wherein the packages contain food.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein the food is a wet pet food.

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)