Method and apparatus for verifying the contents of packages delivered to or leaving a warehouse

• US 5,834,706 A
• Filed: 08/31/1995
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Company Kg
• Original Assignee: Ferdinand Christ
• Inventors: Christ, Ferdinand
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/522,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.15, 177/145, 177/1, 364/567, 364/478, 414/21, 414/222, 414/273, 414/786, 209/583, 209/587, 209/656, 209/592, 209/576, 209/588, 209/589, 209/645
• US Class Current: 177/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 15/001 Volumetric pre-dispensing to an estimated weight; Gravimetric make-up device for target device
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

Apparatus and method for handling of packages containing goods in a warehouse and for verifying contents of the packages includes conveying the packages through consecutive stations; performing a plausibility check on the packages by generating and outputting signals which are indicative of respective plausibility parameters, and inputting the electrical signals to the computer for effecting a plausibility determination, the plausibility check being composed of weighing the packages and outputting a signal indicative of weight; measuring volume of the packages and outputting a signal indicative of volume; and measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the packages and outputting a signal indicative of the at least one property; and inputting electrical signals outputted from the identifying and performing steps to the computer; comparing the respective signals inputted to the computer with respective predetermined data stored in the computer and generating a plausibility determination including a contents verification determination as respective output signals as a function of the comparisons for effecting destination control of the packages and for effecting verification of the contents of the packages; and conveying packages whose contents are verified as correct to one of a storage location or to an exit of the warehouse for delivery to a customer, and conveying packages whose contents are not verified as correct to an error inspection location. Preferably the method is fully automated and includes identifying the packages with an information reader and outputting a signal to the computer.

Claims

1. A method for verifying contents of a package containing goods delivered to or leaving a warehouse, comprising:

(a) conveying the package through consecutive stations;

(b) performing a plausibility check on the package in at least three respective stations by generating and outputting respective electrical signals which are indicative of respective plausibility parameters, and inputting the electrical signals to an electronic data processing means for effecting a plausibility determination, the plausibility check being comprised of;

(i) weighing the package in one of the at least three stations employing means for weighing and outputting an electrical signal indicative of weight;

(ii) measuring volume of the package in one of the at least three stations employing means for measuring volume and outputting an electrical signal indicative of volume; and

(iii) measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package in one of the at least three stations employing means for measuring the at least one property and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the at least one property;

(c) inputting electrical signals outputted from step (b) to the electronic data processing means;

(d) comparing the respective signals inputted to the electronic data processing means with respective predetermined data stored in the electronic data processing means and generating a plausibility determination including a contents verification determination as respective output signals as a function of the comparisons for effecting destination control of the package and for effecting verification of the contents of the package delivered to or leaving the warehouse; and

(e) conveying a package whose contents are verified as correct to one of a storage location in the warehouse or to an exit of the warehouse for delivery to a customer, and conveying a package whose contents are not verified as correct to an error inspection location in the warehouse.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising labelling the package in one of the stations with information corresponding to the electrical signals outputted from step (b) and the respective output signals from step (d) prior to step (e).

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package is performed by employing at least one technique selected from the group consisting of electrical, mechanical, and chemical techniques.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package is performed by employing a technique selected from the group consisting of radiation application and sensing, acoustical energy application and sensing, magnetic field application and measurement, and moisture content measurement.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one property of the goods which is measured is a physical property.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the method is fully automated and wherein steps (b) through (e) take place in transit and during conveyance of the package.

7. A method for automated handling of a package containing goods in a warehouse and for verifying contents of the package delivered to or leaving the warehouse, comprising:

(a) conveying the package through consecutive stations;

(b) identifying the package in transit in one of the stations during conveyance of the package employing means for reading information present on the package and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the information to an electronic data processing means;

(c) performing a plausibility check on the package in transit in at least three respective stations during conveyance of the package by generating and outputting respective electrical signals which are indicative of respective plausibility parameters, and inputting the electrical signals to the electronic data processing means for effecting a plausibility determination, the plausibility check being comprised of;

(i) weighing the package in transit in one of the at least three stations during conveyance of the package employing means for weighing and outputting an electrical signal indicative of weight;

(ii) measuring volume of the package in transit in one of the at least three stations during conveyance of the package employing means for measuring volume and outputting an electrical signal indicative of volume; and

(iii) measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package in transit in one of the at least three stations during conveyance of the package employing means for measuring the at least one property and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the at least one property;

(d) inputting electrical signals outputted from steps (b) and (c) to the electronic data processing means;

(e) comparing the respective signals inputted to the electronic data processing means with respective predetermined data stored in the electronic data processing means including the electrical signal indicative of the identifying information and generating a plausibility determination including a contents verification determination as respective output signals as a function of the comparisons for effecting destination control of the package and for effecting verification of the contents of the package delivered to or leaving the warehouse; and

(f) conveying a package whose contents are verified as correct to one of a storage location in the warehouse or to an exit of the warehouse for delivery to a customer, and conveying a package whose contents are not verified as correct to an error inspection location in the warehouse.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising labelling the package in transit in one of the stations during conveyance of the package with information corresponding to the electrical signals outputted from step (c) and the respective output signals from step (e) prior to step (f).

9. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package is performed by employing at least one technique selected from the group consisting of electrical, mechanical, and chemical techniques.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package is performed by employing a technique selected from the group consisting of radiation application and sensing, acoustical energy application and sensing, magnetic field application and measurement, moisture content measurement.

11. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one property of the goods which is measured is a physical property.

12. An apparatus for verifying contents of a package containing goods delivered to or leaving a warehouse, comprising:

(a) means for conveying the package through consecutive stations;

(b) an electronic data processing means;

(c) means for performing a plausibility check on the package in at least three respective stations by generating and outputting respective electrical signals which are indicative of respective plausibility parameters, and inputting the respective electrical signals to the electronic data processing means for effecting a plausibility determination, the means for performing a plausibility check being comprised of;

(i) means for weighing the package in one of the at least three stations and outputting an electrical signal indicative of weight;

(ii) means for measuring volume of the package in one of the at least three stations and outputting an electrical signal indicative of volume; and

(iii) means for measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package in one of the at least three stations and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the at least one property; and

(d) means for inputting electrical signals outputted from step (c) to the electronic data processing means;

(e) means for comparing the respective signals inputted to the electronic data processing means with respective predetermined data stored in the electronic data processing means and means for generating a plausibility determination including a contents verification determination as respective output signals as a function of the comparisons for effecting verification of the contents of the package delivered to or leaving the warehouse; and

(f) means for conveying a package whose contents are verified as correct to one of a storage location in the warehouse or to an exit of the warehouse for delivery to a customer, and means for conveying a package whose contents are not verified as correct to an error inspection location in the warehouse.

13. An apparatus for automated handling of a package containing goods in a warehouse and for verifying contents of the package delivered to or leaving the warehouse, comprising:

(a) means for conveying the package through consecutive stations;

(b) an electronic data processing means;

(c) means for reading information present on the package in transit in one of the stations during conveyance of the package and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the information to the electronic data processing means;

(d) means for performing a plausibility check on the package in transit in at least three respective stations during conveyance of the package by generating and outputting respective electrical signals which are indicative of respective plausibility parameters, and inputting the respective electrical signals to the electronic data processing means for effecting a plausibility determination, the means for performing a plausibility check being comprised of;

(i) means for weighing the package in transit in one of the at least three stations during conveyance of the package and outputting an electrical signal indicative of weight;

(ii) means for measuring volume of the package in transit in one of the at least three stations during conveyance of the package and outputting an electrical signal indicative of volume; and

(iii) means for measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the package in transit in one of the at least three stations during conveyance of the package and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the at least one property; and

(e) means for inputting electrical signals outputted from steps (c) and (d) to the electronic data processing means;

(e) means for comparing the respective signals inputted to the electronic data processing means with respective predetermined data stored in the electronic data processing means including the electrical signal indicative of the identifying information and means for generating a plausibility determination including a contents verification determination as respective output signals as a function of the comparisons for effecting destination control of the package and for effecting verification of the contents of the package delivered to or leaving the warehouse; and

(f) means for conveying a package whose contents are verified as correct to one of a storage location in the warehouse or to an exit of the warehouse for delivery to a customer, and means for conveying a package whose contents are not verified as correct to an error inspection location in the warehouse.