Laser scanning method and system employing visible scanning-zone indicators identifying a three-dimensional omni-directional laser scanning volume for package transport
First Claim
1. A method of automatically identifying packages during manual package sortation operations, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supporting a laser scanning system above a workspace environment of 3-D spatial extent occupied by a human operator involved in the manual sortation of packages bearing bar code symbols, said laser scanning system including a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within said housing;
(b) projecting from said laser scanning pattern generator, and through said light transmission aperture, a laser scanning pattern substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume and spatially encompassing a substantial portion of said workspace environment;
(c) projecting from a visible scanning-zone indication pattern generator, a visible scanning-zone indication pattern onto a floor surface immediately beneath said workspace environment so as to provide a visible indication of points substantially corresponding to the boundary of the projection of said laser scanning pattern onto said floor surface;
(d) said human operator using said visible scanning-zone indication pattern to help guide the transport of a package bearing a bar code symbol through said predefined 3-D scanning volume so that said laser scanning pattern automatically reads the bar code symbol on said package, and said laser scanning system automatically produces symbol character data representative of said read bar code symbol and the identity of said package; and
(e) manually sorting said package identified during step (d) within said workspace environment.
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Abstract
A method of and system for automatically identifying packages during manual package sortation operations, wherein, a laser scanning system is supported above a workspace environment of 3-D spatial extent, which can be occupied by a human operator involved in the manual sortation of packages bearing bar code symbols. During operation of the system, a laser scanning pattern generator projects an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern that spatially encompasses a substantial portion of the workspace environment, through which packages are transported during sorting operations. A visible scanning-zone indication pattern is projected onto the floor surface immediately beneath the omni-directional laser scanning pattern. As the human operator uses the visible scanning-zone pattern to guide the transport of a package bearing a bar code symbol through the workspace environment, the package is automatically identified by the laser scanning system supported above the workspace environment.
45 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of automatically identifying packages during manual package sortation operations, comprising the steps of:
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(a) supporting a laser scanning system above a workspace environment of 3-D spatial extent occupied by a human operator involved in the manual sortation of packages bearing bar code symbols, said laser scanning system including a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within said housing; (b) projecting from said laser scanning pattern generator, and through said light transmission aperture, a laser scanning pattern substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume and spatially encompassing a substantial portion of said workspace environment; (c) projecting from a visible scanning-zone indication pattern generator, a visible scanning-zone indication pattern onto a floor surface immediately beneath said workspace environment so as to provide a visible indication of points substantially corresponding to the boundary of the projection of said laser scanning pattern onto said floor surface; (d) said human operator using said visible scanning-zone indication pattern to help guide the transport of a package bearing a bar code symbol through said predefined 3-D scanning volume so that said laser scanning pattern automatically reads the bar code symbol on said package, and said laser scanning system automatically produces symbol character data representative of said read bar code symbol and the identity of said package; and (e) manually sorting said package identified during step (d) within said workspace environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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10. A system for automatically identifying packages during manual package sortation operations, comprising:
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a laser scanning system supported above a workspace environment of 3-D spatial extent occupied by a human operator involved in the manual sortation of packages bearing bar code symbols, said laser scanning system including a housing having a light transmission aperture, a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within said housing, for projecting through said light transmission aperture, a laser scanning pattern substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume that spatially encompasses a substantial portion of said workspace environment occupied by said human operator, and a visible scanning-zone indication pattern generator for projecting a visible scanning-zone indication pattern onto a floor surface immediately beneath said workspace environment so as to provide a visible indication of points substantially corresponding to the boundary of the projection of said laser scanning pattern onto said floor surface, wherein said human operator can use said visible scanning-zone indication pattern to visually guide the transport of a package bearing a bar code symbol through said predefined 3-D scanning volume, so that said laser scanning pattern automatically reads the bar code symbol on said package, and said laser scanning system automatically produces symbol character data representative of said read bar code symbol and the identity of said package, and thereafter, said package can be manually sorted by said human operator within said workspace environment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification