Automatic object routing system
First Claim
1. A system for automatically directing items bearing destination coded labels to selected collection locations along a conveyor system, said conveyor system having a plurality of appropriately located input areas and at least one reading area and being configured so that all said input areas communicate with a reading area, said conveyor system also including a plurality of said collection locations and means for diverging items from said conveyor to said locations in accordance with data encoded on said labels;
- said system for automatically directing including;
means for scanning said labels located at each of said at least one reading area, said means for scanning including decoding means for generating decoded label data in accordance with the data encoded on said label;
system controller means responsive to said decoded label data, said system controller means having storage means for storing an assignment schedule assigning said label encoded destinations to said collection locations, said system controller means generating a collection location identification signal in accordance with said decoded label data and said assignment schedule;
timing means synchronized with the speed of said conveyor, said timing means receiving said collection location identification signal and generating a divert signal when the item bearing the decoded label reaches the assigned collection location, said means for diverting receiving said divert signal and diverting said item to said assigned collection location;
first item sensing means in the proximity of said means for scanning, said item sensing means sensing the travel of said item past said means for scanning;
said decoding means generating said decoded label data when a label is properly decoded when said item sensing means senses said item, and a no-read signal when a label is not properly decoded before said item sensing means ceases to sense said item; and
second item sensing means located to receive items after said first item sensing means, said first and second item sensing means being separated by a preselected spacing chosen so that the sensing of two items by said first sensing means before the sensing of an item by the second sensing means indicates that the items are too closely spaced, and the sensing of an item by said second sensing means before said first sensing means ceases to sense the same item indicates that the item is too large for proper dimension.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a system for routing assorted items to preselected destinations. The items to be routed are deposited at any of various reception areas and automatically routed to a particular final destination depending upon the nature of the item. Each item carries a machine readable label, such as a bar coded label, which is scanned by an appropriate scanning mechanism. Information encoded onto the label is then obtained by the scanning mechanism and is injected into appropriate logic decoding circuitry where it is decoded to identify the item, its destination, or both. The decoded information is then applied to the system control logic which routes the label bearing item to the appropriate destination. Movement of items within the system is affected by conveyors or similar devices and appropriately located diverters to control transfer of the items to various conveyor loops or spurs.
44 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for automatically directing items bearing destination coded labels to selected collection locations along a conveyor system, said conveyor system having a plurality of appropriately located input areas and at least one reading area and being configured so that all said input areas communicate with a reading area, said conveyor system also including a plurality of said collection locations and means for diverging items from said conveyor to said locations in accordance with data encoded on said labels;
- said system for automatically directing including;
means for scanning said labels located at each of said at least one reading area, said means for scanning including decoding means for generating decoded label data in accordance with the data encoded on said label;
system controller means responsive to said decoded label data, said system controller means having storage means for storing an assignment schedule assigning said label encoded destinations to said collection locations, said system controller means generating a collection location identification signal in accordance with said decoded label data and said assignment schedule;
timing means synchronized with the speed of said conveyor, said timing means receiving said collection location identification signal and generating a divert signal when the item bearing the decoded label reaches the assigned collection location, said means for diverting receiving said divert signal and diverting said item to said assigned collection location;
first item sensing means in the proximity of said means for scanning, said item sensing means sensing the travel of said item past said means for scanning;
said decoding means generating said decoded label data when a label is properly decoded when said item sensing means senses said item, and a no-read signal when a label is not properly decoded before said item sensing means ceases to sense said item; and
second item sensing means located to receive items after said first item sensing means, said first and second item sensing means being separated by a preselected spacing chosen so that the sensing of two items by said first sensing means before the sensing of an item by the second sensing means indicates that the items are too closely spaced, and the sensing of an item by said second sensing means before said first sensing means ceases to sense the same item indicates that the item is too large for proper dimension.
- said system for automatically directing including;
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2. The system of claim 1 further including third sensing means located to receive items after said second sensing means, said third sensing means applying a synchronizing signal to said timing means when an item which has ceased to be sensed by said second sensing means is sensed by said third sensing means.
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3. The system of claim 1 further including input interface means;
- and wherein said means for scanning includes means for transmitting said decoded data to said interface means, means for receiving retransmitted data from said interface circuit, and means for comparing said decoded data and said retransmitted data;
first item sensing means located to sense said item simultaneous with the scanning of said item;
said decoding means generating a data ready signal while said item is being scanned and when said means for comparing indicates said decoded data and said retransmitted data compare, and a no-read signal after said item has been sensed and said means for comparing failed to indicate that said decoded data and said retransmitted data compare; and
second item sensing means located to receive items after said first item sensing means, said first and second item sensing means being separated by a preselected spacing chosen so that the sensing of two items by said first sensing means before the sensing of an item by the second sensing means indicates that the items are too closely spaced, and the sensing of an item by said second sensing means before said first sensing means ceases to sense the same item indicates that the item is too large for proper dimension.
- and wherein said means for scanning includes means for transmitting said decoded data to said interface means, means for receiving retransmitted data from said interface circuit, and means for comparing said decoded data and said retransmitted data;
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4. The system of claim 3 further including third sensing means located to receive items after said second sensing means, said third sensing means applying a synchronizing signal to said timing means when an item which has ceased to be sensed by said second sensing means is sensed by said third sensing means.
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5. The system of claim 1 wherein said system controller includes first storage means for storing a master schedule of destination and collection location assignments;
- and second storage means for storing an active schedule of destination and collection location assignments, selected portions of said master schedule serving as said active schedule for preselected periods and continually changing from period to period.
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6. The system of claim 5 further including means for temporarily revising said active schedule independently of said master schedule.
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7. The system of claim 4 wherein said system controller includes first storage means for storing a master schedule of destination and collection location assignments;
- and second storage means for storing an active schedule of destination and collection location assignments, selected portions of said master schedule serving as said active schedule for preselected periods and continually changing from period to period.
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8. The system of claim 7 further including means for temporarily revising said active schedule independently of said master schedule.
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9. A method of automatically directing articles carrying destination encoded labels to collection locations positioned with respect to a conveyor system including means for scanning and decoding said labels and means for diverting said articles from said conveyor system to said collection locations comprising the steps of:
- storing a schedule of destination-collection location assignment;
said step of storing a schedule of destination-location assignments including the steps of;
storing a long term schedule of assignments, storing a short term schedule of assignments, said short term schedule being periodically selected from said long term schedule, and using said short term schedule for said comparing step, scanning and decoding said labels to produce decoded destination data;
comparing said destination data to said schedule and providing a destination signal;
applying said destination signal to a timing device;
synchronizing said timing device to the speed of said conveyor system;
generating a divert signal at a timed interval after applying said destination signal to said timing device;
applying said divert signal to one of said means for diverting to divert an article to the collection location dictated by said schedule.
- storing a schedule of destination-collection location assignment;
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10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of verifying that the destination data is accurately made available for said comparing step.
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11. The method of claim 10 further including the first steps of:
- detecting the presence of said article during said scanning step;
providing a data ready Signal when a verification of accurate destination data is received before said detecting step is complete, and a no-read signal when said detecting step is complete before a verification of destination data is obtained.
- detecting the presence of said article during said scanning step;
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12. The method of claim 11 further including a second step of detecting the presence of said article;
- timing the first and second detecting steps to assure article spacing and size by performing the substeps of;
using two consecutive article detections in the first detection step before an article detection in the second detection step to indicate that the articles are too closely spaced; and
using the initiation of the second detection step before the termination of the first detection step to indicate that the detected article is too large.
- timing the first and second detecting steps to assure article spacing and size by performing the substeps of;
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13. The method of claim 11 further including a second step of detecting the presence of said article;
- timing the first and second detecting steps to assure article spacing and size by performing the substeps of;
using two consecutive article detections in the first detection step before an article detection in the second detection step to indicate that the articles are too closely spaced; and
using the initiation of the second detection step before the termination of the first detection step to indicate that the detected article is too large.
- timing the first and second detecting steps to assure article spacing and size by performing the substeps of;
Specification