AUTOMATIC CONTAINER ORIENTATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising:
- one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package;
a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and
an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of automatic container orientation systems. Also disclosed are methods for automatically orienting containers. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for automatically orienting containers generally includes one or more cameras, a controller, and an orientation unit. The one or more cameras are configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package. The controller is in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data and is configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation. The orientation unit is configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation.
2 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising:
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one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for automatically orienting containers in a desired final orientation for packaging, the method comprising:
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obtaining data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; transferring the data to a controller and determining an amount of rotation for the at least one container needed to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and rotating the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for automatically orienting containers in a desired final orientation for packaging, the system comprising:
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a conveyor system; a feed station configured to receive at least one container from a container source and place the at least one container on the conveyor system; and an orientation unit configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of the at least one container, determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation, and rotate the at least one container by the amount of rotation determined for the at least one container to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; and a packaging station configured to package the at least one container while maintaining the desired final orientation of the at least one container; wherein the conveyor system is configured to move the at least one container from the feed station to the orientation unit, and from the orientation unit to the packaging station. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification