Method of distributing packages or the like
First Claim
1. A method of distributing multisurface packages by a separating and conveying device according to an address applied to a package surface, comprising the following steps:
- (a) individually conveying the packages in a transporting direction along a conveying path;
(b) optically scanning each surface of each package, including an optical scanning of an underside of each package through a gap in said conveying path;
said scanning step including rough-scanning at least some of the package surfaces;
(c) based on step (b), obtaining, at least approximately simultaneously, an image of all package surfaces of each package on a single monitor having six partial image regions;
(d) selecting, for each package, a package surface based on all surface images obtained in step (c);
(e) fine-scanning the package surface selected in step (d);
(f) based on step (e), obtaining an at least partial image of the selected surface; and
(g) assigning to the image of the selected package surface a sorting information for distributing the package corresponding to the image.
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Abstract
In a method of distributing packages according to addresses, headings or the like applied to their surfaces by means of a separating and conveying device, it is provided that along a conveying path all surface portions of each previously separated package are scanned optically, for each package images are obtained from the surface portions of the package and, for further evaluation, the images are displayed simultaneously or approximately simultaneously. For each package, one or a plurality of the images are selected, and each selected image is assigned a sorting information for the distribution of the package corresponding to that image.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of distributing multisurface packages by a separating and conveying device according to an address applied to a package surface, comprising the following steps:
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(a) individually conveying the packages in a transporting direction along a conveying path; (b) optically scanning each surface of each package, including an optical scanning of an underside of each package through a gap in said conveying path;
said scanning step including rough-scanning at least some of the package surfaces;(c) based on step (b), obtaining, at least approximately simultaneously, an image of all package surfaces of each package on a single monitor having six partial image regions; (d) selecting, for each package, a package surface based on all surface images obtained in step (c); (e) fine-scanning the package surface selected in step (d); (f) based on step (e), obtaining an at least partial image of the selected surface; and (g) assigning to the image of the selected package surface a sorting information for distributing the package corresponding to the image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for recognizing an address on a surface of multisurface packages;
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(a) a conveyor for consecutively advancing the packages along a conveying path; (b) a gap provided in the conveying path over which the packages are moved; (c) optical scanning means for optically scanning all surfaces of each package;
said optical scanning means including means for scanning an underside of each package through said gap;
said optical scanning means including means for rough-scanning at least some of the package surfaces;(d) displaying means for at least approximately simultaneously displaying images of all surfaces of each package;
said displaying means being formed of a single monitor having six partial image regions; and(e) means for fine-scanning a region of a selected image and for obtaining an image of the region with a predetermined resolution. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- comprising
Specification