MATERIAL CONTAINER SORTING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 3,639,728 A
• Filed: 07/17/1970
• Issued: 02/01/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fredric E. Helfand, Marvin B. Baer
• Original Assignee: Fredric E. Helfand, Marvin B. Baer
• Inventors: Helfand, Fredric E., Baer, Marvin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US05/055,884
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.115,61.11,61.8,61.7,91.14UX,61.6J,61.6L,151.2 340/146.3 186/1 104/88 209/111.5 214/11
• US Class Current: 700/224
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/493 by use of light responsive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sorting, routing and otherwise categorizing material containers, such as luggage, freight, cargo and the like, comprising conveyor means upon which to place the material containers, labels adapted to be secured to the material containers and having alphanumeric code information thereon, electro-optical conversion means positioned adjacent the conveyor means, photoelectric means positioned adjacent the conveyor means and the electro-optical conversion means for conditioning a programmed logic system for operation. The electro-optical conversion means is adapted to read the alphanumeric code to produce an output signal to be fed to the programmed logic system which is in turn connected to and adapted to activate electromechanical equipment means to sort, route, weigh, tabulate, or otherwise categorize the individual material containers placed on the conveyor means.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sorting material containers into various categories comprising conveyor means for transporting said material containers, alphanumeric code means, electro-optical converter means, means connected to the output of said electro-optical converter means and responsive thereto to produce a command signal, output means connected to said responsive means, and means for applying said alphanumeric code means to said material containers, said electro-optical converter means being operative to read said alphanumeric code means as the material containers are transported by said conveyor means, and said output means being operative upon the application of said command signal thereto to effect the sorting of said material containers into various categories.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sorting of the material containers into various categories is predeterminately defined by said response means.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said alphanumeric code means comprises a label applicable to the containers.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said responsive means includes a computer means, said computer means being operative to produce said command signal.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said computer means is programmed to predetermine said various categories, and said alphanumeric code is definite of at least one of said categories.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said response means comprises first computer means, and second computer means, said first computer means being operative to receive said electro-optical converter output, and said second computer means being connected to the output of said first computer means and being operative to produce said directive command signal in response to an output signal from said first computer means.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said output means include diverter means, said diverter means being operative in response to said command signal to selectively divert said material containers from said conveyor means.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, including at least one branch conveyor means, said diverter means being selectively operable in dependence upon said directive command signal to divert selective ones of said material containers form said conveyor means to said branch conveyor means.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electro-optical converter means comprises a modified vidicon camera, and an analog to digital converter, said vidicon camera output being connected to said analog to digital converter, thereby resulting in a digital output from said electro-optical converter.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electro-optical converter means comprises a vidicon camera, and a stop action shutter in front of said camera.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said electro-optical means comprises a vidicon camera, and an autolight control circuit for permitting operation of said camera over a wide range of illumination and contrast levels.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said response means comprises first computer means, and second computer means, and means for transmitting said digital electro-optical converter means output to said first computer means, said second computer means being connected to the output oF said first computer means and being operative to produce said command signal in response to an output signal from said first computer means.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said first computer means is of the character recognition and discrimination type, and said second computer means is of the sorting code and directive command signal generation type and being programmed to direct the sorting into said various categories.

14. A method of sorting material containers into various categories comprising the steps of transporting said material containers along a conveyor means, applying a label carrying an alphanumeric code to said material containers, said code corresponding to at least one of said various categories, conveying said coded material containers before an electro-optical converter to read said coded information and transform the same into an electrical signal representative thereof, transmitting said electrical signal to a signal responsive means to produce a command signal in response thereto, and transmitting said command signal to output means which are effective upon reception of said command signal to effect the sorting of said material containers into said various categories.

15. A method of sorting material containers in accordance with claim 14 including the step of programming a computer means to correlate said code on said material container with that of its corresponding category and to produce a command signal to said output means to effect the sorting of said material container into said corresponding category.