Package handling system with kickout labeling

• US 7,313,460 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Mackenzie, Prater, Alexander C., Reynolds, Suzanne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGESS, RAMYA PRAKASAM
• Application Number:
  US10/960,891
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 700/227, 700/213, 700/215, 700/225, 700/226
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A package handling system for use with a plurality of packages having package identification thereon. The system of one embodiment comprises processing stations where packages having heterogeneous contents are processed. One or more identifiers are positioned at the processing stations to detect the package identifications associated with the packages. A controller is coupled to the identifier and has access to first and second package data. The first package data related to an actual condition of the package, and the second package data related to acceptable package conditions. A labeler coupled to the controller is configured to apply a first label to the package if the first and second package data indicate that the package is in an acceptable condition or a second label if the first and second package data indicate that the package is in a condition requiring further processing.

Claims

1. A processing system for packages having symbology thereon, the packages being sequentially movable along a processing path, the system comprising:

a reader adjacent to the processing path and positioned to read the symbology on the packages;

a controller coupled to the reader, the controller having a database with first and second package data about each package, the first package data being related to an actual condition of a package at the reader, and the second package data being related to an expected condition of the package at the reader, the controller configured to analyze the first and second package data;

a label dispenser adjacent to the processing path and coupled to the controller, the label dispenser being configured to apply a shipping label to the package if the first data and the second data sufficiently match indicating the package is in suitable condition to continue along the processing path, the label dispenser configured to apply a kickout label to the package if the first and second data do not sufficiently match, the kickout label having machine-readable data thereon and a human-readable message thereon, the human-readable message relating to instructions for further processing of the package;

a package director coupled to the controller and positioned to direct the package along a kickout path away from the processing path after the kickout label has been applied; and

an analyzer coupled to the controller and configured to collect and automatically compare data related to the package to which the kickout label was applied to other data related to other packages to which kickout labels were applied, the analyzer automatically determining whether modification is needed in the package handling process and automatically initiating a modification in the package handling process.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the kickout label includes in human-readable format date/time information related to a cause of package kickout, a description of the cause of package kickout, and instructions for further processing of the package to which the kickout label is applied.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer is configured to provide data for use in a collection of data related to packages to which kickout labels have been applied, the collection of data being reducible into a tangible medium in human-readable form.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the label dispenser is configured to provide at least one of a fixed set of human-readable messages on the kickout label.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the label dispenser is configured to provide a human-readable message in a sentence type format on the kickout label.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the label dispenser is configured to provide a human-readable message in a code format corresponding to a separate set of processing instructions.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer is configured to provide feedback data in at least one of a human-readable and a machine-readable format relating to the modification in the package handling process.

8. A self-correcting package handling system for use with a plurality of packages having heterogeneous contents, each of the packages having package identification related to that package, comprising:

a processing path having a direction of travel and a plurality of processing stations including a labeling station;

an identifier situated proximate to the path at the labeling station;

a controller coupled to the identifier to receive package data related to the package identification for a package, the controller having first and second package data, the first package data being related to an actual condition of the package, and the second package data being related to an expected condition of the package;

a labeler situated proximate to the path at the labeling station beyond the identifier with respect to the direction of travel and coupled to the controller, the labeler configured to apply a first label to the package if the first package data and second package data sufficiently correspond, the labeler configured to apply a second label to the package if the first and second package data do not sufficiently correspond, the second label having a human-readable message relating to the package condition requiring further attention; and

an analyzer coupled to the controller and configured to receive third data related to the first and second package data, the analyzer processing the third data related to the package and third data related to other packages and automatically determining whether a modification is needed in the package handling process, the analyzer configured to automatically initiate the modification to the package handling process.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first label is a shipping label with shipping information about the package, and the second label is a second label.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the second label has a human-readable message relating to the package condition requiring further attention.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the second label includes in human-readable format information related to a cause of the first and second package data not sufficiently corresponding, a description of the cause, and instructions for further processing of the package to which the second label is applied.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to provide data for use in a collection of data related to packages to which second labels have been applied, the collection of data being reducible into a tangible medium in human-readable form.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a scale coupled to the controller and positioned to weigh the package and provide weight data related to the package to the controller.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is coupled to remote data sources and is configured to provide feedback data to one or more of the data sources.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the labeler provides at least one of a fixed set of human-readable messages on the second label.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the labeler provides a human-readable message in a sentence-type format on the second label.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising a package diverter coupled to the controller and configured to direct the package along a kickout path away from a processing path after the second label has been applied to the package.

18. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller has access to data related to dimensions of items to be contained in the package and data related to a plurality of shipping containers of different sizes, the controller provides a dimensional analysis of the items to be contained in the package and of the shipping containers.

19. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller has access to data related to fragility of items to be contained in the package, the controller provides a fragility analysis related to packing of the items.

20. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller has access to ORMD-related data for items to be contained in the package, the controller provides an ORMD analysis to determine if an ORMD designation is required for the package containing a combination of the items.

21. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to provide a combination of quality checks that include a first quality check independently indicating the package is ready for shipping, and a second quality check independently indicating the package is ready for shipping, and the combination of the first and second quality checks together indicating that the package is not ready for shipping.

22. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to provide a shipping mode analysis for a package wherein the first package data includes data related to an intended shipping mode for the package, the controller automatically determines if a modification to the intended shipping mode is needed.

23. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to provide a branding analysis for a package wherein the package is to be shipped under one of a plurality of brand names, the controller determining whether the package improperly contains brand information not related to the one of the plurality of brand names.

24. A processing system for packages each having a package identification associated therewith, the processing system being coupled to a plurality of remote independent data sources, comprising:

processing stations where packages having heterogeneous contents are processed in preparation for transport to a destination, the processing stations having one or more data input devices;

an identifier at least one of the processing stations to detect the package identifications associated with the packages;

a controller coupled to the identifier to receive data related to the package identification detected by the identifier, the controller coupled to one of the data input devices to receive first package data related to an actual condition of the package, the controller having second package data related to acceptable package conditions required prior to completed processing of the package, the controller being configured to use the first and second package data to determine if the package is in a condition requiring further processing or in acceptable condition, the controller being configured to receive the second package data from the independent data sources for comparison with the first package data to the second package data, the controller configured to automatically initiate processing instructions related to the processing of the package or to automatically initiate communication with at least one of the data sources; and

a labeler coupled to the controller and configured to apply a first label to the package if the controller determines that the package is in an acceptable condition, the labeler configured to apply a second label to the package if the controller determines that the package is in a condition requiring further processing, the second label having instructions for further processing of the package.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to compare the first and second package data and to automatically initiate a communication related to modification of the second package data or to a package processing procedure.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising package director coupled to the controller and positioned to direct the package along a kickout path if the package is in the condition requiring further processing.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a scale coupled to the controller and positioned to weigh the package identified and provide to the controller weight data related to the package.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the first label is a shipping label with shipping information about the package, and the second label is a kickout label.

29. A processing system for packages each having a package identification associated therewith, comprising:

an identifier positioned to detect the package identification associated with a package;

a controller coupled to the identifier, the controller having access to first and second package data about each package;

a labeler coupled to the controller and configured to apply a first label to the package if the first package data and the second package data indicate that the package is in an acceptable condition, and the labeler configured to apply a second label to the package if the first and second package data indicate that the package is in a condition requiring further processing; and

an analyzer coupled to the controller and configured to collect and automatically compare the first package data related to the package to which the second label was applied to other package data related to other packages to which second labels were applied, the analyzer being configured to determine whether modification is needed in the package handling process.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the controller has access to the first package data related to an actual condition of the package detected by the identifier, and the controller has access to the second package data related to an expected condition of the package.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the second label has machine-readable data thereon and a human-readable message thereon, the human-readable message being relating to instructions for further processing of the package.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the analyzer is configured to automatically initiate a communication relating to the modification needed in the package handling process.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the first label is a shipping label and the second label includes in human-readable format information related to a cause of the first and second package data indicating that the package is in a condition requiring further processing, a description of the cause, and instructions for further processing of the package to which the second label is applied.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the analyzer provides data for use in a collection of data related to packages to which second labels have been applied, the collection of data being reducible into a tangible medium in human-readable form.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the labeler is configured to provide at least one of a fixed set of human-readable messages on the second label.

36. The system of claim 29 wherein the labeler provides a human-readable message in a sentence-type format.

37. The system of claim 29, further comprising a package director coupled to the controller and positioned to direct the package along a path after the second label has been applied.

38. The system of claim 29 wherein the analyzer provides, in at least one of a human-readable and a machine-readable format, feedback data relating to the modification in the package handling process.

39. The system of claim 29, further comprising a scale coupled to the controller and positioned to weigh the package and provide weight data related to the package to the controller.

40. A package handling method, comprising:

moving a plurality of packages proximate to a processing path, each package having package identification related to that package;

identifying with an identifier the package identification when the package is proximate to a first portion of the processing path;

sending data related to the package identification from the identifier to a controller, the controller having access to data related to processing of the package, the data including first data about processing steps actually applied to the package prior to the package arriving at a first location relative to the processing path and second data about processing steps expected to be applied to the package prior to arriving at the first location;

comparing the first data to the second data;

applying a first label to the package if the comparison of the first data and the second data indicates the package is in acceptable condition, and applying a second label to the package if the comparison of the first data and the second data indicates that the package is in a condition requiring further processing, the second label having data thereon related to the instructions for the further processing; and

determining whether a modification or a quality control check is needed in a package handling process based at least in part upon the comparison between the first and second data.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising moving the package toward a second portion of the processing path if the comparison of the first data and the second data indicates the package is in the acceptable condition.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising moving the package toward a third portion of the processing path if the comparison of the first data and the second data indicates that the package is in the condition requiring further processing.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing instructions for further processing of the package if the package is moved toward the third portion of the processing path.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing a compilation of the information in human-readable format related to packages moved toward the third portion of the processing path.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising automatically modifying the package handling process prior to the first station to at least partially change at least one process step applied to packages prior to the first station.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising receiving third data from one or more independent data sources remote from the controller, the third data being at least a portion of the second data, and providing feedback information to the one or more independent data sources.